Beautiful Neutral Fireplace Christmas Mantel

Learn how to make your neutral fireplace Christmas mantel sparkle this holiday season.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, While they looked drab and not fab, with no mantel flair!

While those may not be the exact words of that familiar poem, the sentiments are pretty accurate. Who wants to look at an ugly mantel hiding behind their Christmas stockings? Let that holiday mantel really sparkle this December with a beautiful Christmas mantel display.

As the stunning star of the show each Christmas season, your Christmas tree has to look amazing each year. But what most people forget is that the next runner up is your fireplace mantel.

And as fun as decorating a tree is, there is something peaceful about sitting near a cozy fireplace decked out in your favorite holiday decor. Help those stockings really shine this year with some neutral Christmas mantel decor ideas.

Don't have a fireplace mantel to embellish? Keep going to the bottom of this post for more ideas.

How to Create a Stunning Neutral Fireplace Christmas Mantel

Fireplace Christmas Decor Ideas

Need ideas to create the perfect Christmas mantel for your living room? Here are some options for embellishing your mantel:

• fresh greenery
• faux foliage
• pine cones or holiday branches
• candle holders
• mini trees - depending on size
• lanterns - this could be a great DIY option
• vases
• mirrors
• frames or vintage signs
• fake snow
• a Christmas village
• Christmas lights or fairy lights

Pick Neutral Colors

While there is definitely an element of bold and beautiful in a Christmas color palette, neutral tones are ideal for an elegant style. The best way to incorporate a pop of color is with simple accents.

A natural or earthy color scheme is stunning. For our festive Christmas mantel, I chose to use a selection of white, green and gold hues. The light wood tones also emphasize elements of nature.

Garland and Greenery

Garland is one of my favorite things for the top of the mantel. Luckily there are several options for picking out Christmas garland. Here are a few different kinds:

• faux greenery garland
• classic green garland
• leaf garland
• garland with berries
• tinsel garland
• flower garland
• pom pom garland - you can make your own here!
• wood garland
• paper garland

Choose what type of garland you like. Real garland is more of my personal favorite. It can be messy so instead I went with a real touch garlands. I used a Pine garland on the bottom of the mantel. Then I added 2 Norfolk garlands over the top. Layering these garlands helps to flow over the edge and span the length of the mantel.

Next, I added a Eucalyptus garland for additional greenery. Layering different varieties of green leaves will bring needed texture. Dried Baby's Breath will add just a touch a white decor to break up the monotony of the green.

Any type of branch could also be a great addition to fill your garland if you don't have as many garlands to use.

There are plenty of beautiful varieties for a faux garland or garlands out of different items or textures. Don't be afraid to try artificial if you don't have access to a real one. And layering in different types is also really fun!

How to Attach Your Greens

To attach your garland and greenery to the mantel, one great suggestion that I use are command strip cord bundlers. These work well and are easy to hide in the garland. Removable hooks may be another great idea.

I also used command cord bundlers to hang the bells in my garland.

And don't forget to add your stocking holders. These will be hidden under the garland.

Light Color Accents

It's always a good idea to incorporate some light color accents into your design.

As I was really going for subtle decorative items, adding bows in light colors was just the touch of texture that was needed. The moss green ribbon and vintage gold ribbon add variety to the different hues.

To draw the color up I added a light green bow to the mirror.

Another option instead of bows or ribbon could be bead strands or additional colored flowers.

Simple Accessories for Fireplace Christmas Decorations

Extravagant decorations can be ideal for a bold Christmas mantel. But sometimes a simple look can be the best for a style that is more subtle and neutral.

The large mirror over the fireplace adheres to the natural elements and coloring of the wood tones. It also makes the room look much larger than it is. If you don't have a mirror, a large sign is another simple way to emphasize the space.

Neutral golden candlesticks with modern black candles are beautifully displayed at different heights.

I chose to offset the garland to the side instead of centering it on the mantel. The gold bells add a gorgeous pop of color and are a wonderful focal point.

And to top it off I added twinkle lights for a little extra shine.

Don't have a fireplace mantel to showcase? There is more than one way to create a great focal point in your living room. Adding stockings is a great way to bring in a texture or touch of color.

Faux fur stockings help to add an elegance. While crocheted stockings break up and add a new texture.

You can also see how I decorated my Christmas mantel last year. Enjoy creating your very own neutral fireplace Christmas mantel this holiday season.

Brooke